----- Original Message ----- From: JIM GRAHAM To: Mpls Forum Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 10:22 AM Subject: Political Fantasy and National Night Out
Political Fantasy: Those allegedly responsible for the shooting of the child in Jordan have been arrested. Reportedly, the perpetrators were convicted felons with long rap sheets. As such, they would not legally have been allowed even to posses a firearm, let alone "conceal and carry". The Federal penalty for such people possessing a pistols can be more than ten years in Leavenworth Prison. But a judge has to send them there, so I hope people will take Barb Lickness' advice and attend the Court hearing on this case. This brings up an interesting matter. Very often when something untoward occurs, certain list members seize on the situation as a time to rail against a political agenda that they "logically" attach to the situation. Misplaced logical attachment like this occured when the anti-concealed-carry argument was associated with the shooting of a child and drug and gang activity on the Northside. What almost never occurs when these situations blow over is for the person who committed the logical error to send an apology admitting that the association of the two separate issues was wrong. It seems to be "don't bother me with facts while I am engaged in being "politically correct". I guess it "isn't what people don't know that hurts us, it's what they know for absolute sure that isn't so" that does the damage. ----------------- National Night Out: National Night Out on Franklin Avenue was very interesting. Three groups each took turns celebrating National Night Out in their own way. The drug dealers seemed to be having their own party and got together on the block bordered by Chicago-Franklin-and Park Avenues. We watched as vans unloaded their "day labor" street dealers earlier in the morning on Park Avenue. The drug "contractors" must be moving their workers over here from the Northside with the heat being applied. (Good news for Jordan, not so good for us.) This is not hyperbole. The contractors actually bring a bunch of street dealers over here in vans. Their party went late into the evening. Two other opposing groups held National Night Out Parties only a couple of blocks away. The folks from Franklin Avenue Business Association (FABA) in conjunction with the Franklin Avenue Safety Center held a great party in the Ancient Traders Plaza. About 200 people attended and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. The party went from 4:00 to 6:30 and mainly featured Children's activities and appropriately hot dogs. Immediately across the street in the Trinity School parking lot, another party started at 6:00 and went to 8:30. That party was aimed more at an older crowd. It featured a potluck with wild rice casseroles, salads, and such. It attracted about seventy people who mainly sat around talking and listening to some great jazz from a live band. Erick Fransen and the UH Jazz Band did two sets that were marvelous. Many were surprised that we have such talented musicians in our community, but we have a bunch of them. The highlight of the party was Carla Nielson from the Franklin Avenue Safety Center joining the band and singing "The Girl from Ipanema". That and her dancing during the instrumental segments was a hoot--and when she finished everyone breathed AHHHHH. The same Ventura Village group including the UH Jazz Band is planning to bring some other musicians together (hopefully including the "Rocking Gislason Bros") for our "Second Annual" Ventura Village Lamb Sacrifice and Grape Festival Party. It will be held the first part of September. (Second because it just started last year.) That party will be along Franklin in the middle of Ventura Village, and is also intended to bring people together to celebrate community. We do need to do that more than once a year. Probably we need a spring, midsummer, and fall City Nights out and a Minneapolis Wine Festival along old "Grape Street". I know RT likes to party, so he should help start a grape festival where he grew up. It once was named Grape Street and God knows it use to be the leading center for Wine consumption in all of Minnesota. Remember the Community "OWNS" the night! Time we repossessed it, don't you think? Jim Graham, Ventura Village "Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. - Marcus Aurelius "Life is a circle and no matter where one is standing in describing real truth, it is mere perspective of one side of the same truth, which has many sides. Each equally true." TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
